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LEVI H. PAGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF IWOTHIRDS TO PETER SCHVVARER AND MICHAEL HUBER, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

EGG AND FRUIT CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,947, dated November 1, 1881.

Application lcd February 2S, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEVI H. PAGE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit and Egg Carriers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereot', that will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw- Io ings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in cell-trays for shipping fruit, eggs, Soc., and is an improvement on former patents issued to me for similar purposes.

Figure l is a top or face view of a tray embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top view of a card ot' division-slats. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in the plane 3 3, Fig. l. Fig.

zo 4 is a vertical section in the plane 4 4, Fig. l, and Figs. 5 and 6 are detached views ot' the outside slats.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a cell-tray constructed ot' a series of thin wooden slats, which may be ot such dimensions as to embrace any required number of cells. -The slats B and B forni the inside part ot' the fabric in one direction, and are arranged one above the other, leaving an intervening space, as

3o shown in Fig. 3 ot' the drawings. These slats have the upper and lower outside edges out down at a point near the ends to form the shoulder-hearings a and to tit into the rectangular slots a. in the outside slats C, one of which is shown in Fig. G of the drawings. The inside slats D, running at right angles to the series of slats B and B', are ofthe form shown in Fig.

4 ofthe drawings, and are provided with the.

rectangular slots a2 a2, through which pass 4o the slats B and B. The ends ot' the slats` D are bifurcated and tongued, as at t and c, respectively, so as to be adapted to engage and interlock with the rectangular slots a3 in the outside slats E, which at its ends is bifurcated and tongued the same as at slat D. The slats D are provided with the shoulders a4, which have a bearin g on the inside of their relative outside slats, which form of construction serves to retain the slats in proper position and o strengthen the fabric.v

The two outside slatsE,oneot whichis shown (No model.)

in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, run parallel with the inside slats B and B', the ends heilig bifurcated and tongued, so as to engage with the rectangular slots b bin the ends of the outside slats C. The shouldersf have hearings on the inside ends of the slats C.

The two outside slats C have square ends, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and run parallel with the slats D and at right angles 6o to the outside slats E.

The ends ot' the outside sla-ls and the ends of the center inside slats are provided with the metallic.locking-protectors F, which are clamped over the ends in the manner shown in the several igures of the drawings. These protectors not only prevent the ends from splitting and breaking, but also securely lock the framework and prevent the series ofslats from becoming separated. Should it be necessary, 7o these protectors may be placed upon the ends of all the inside slats.y The protectors F are of sheet metal, and are attached to the slats by means of aclamping-tool having a pair ot' jaws provided with teeth to form the indenta- I tions f.

The material from which the slats are cutis first thoroughly steamed, the shrinkage of the slats being so great that in many instances the tra-ys would fall to pieces. This objection I 8o now obviate by means ot' the metallic clamped ends, which securely lock the corners of the tray and prevent the series of slats from becoming disengaged.

The series of divisionslats C are arranged to form a card, leaving intervening spaces between the slats for ventilation, and are sewed to the holding orjoining cleats D, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In a former pat' ent the division-slats were attached to thejoin- 9o ing'cleats byan adhesive composition; but this method would not stand the changes of temperature.

The trays are arranged in a suitable box or packing-case, one above the other, and having the division-slats C inserted between each layer, separatingtbe goods and insuringa thorough ventilation. The box or case in which the trays are packed sh ould be provided with openings or pert'oratious for the admission ot'air. roo

In my application for Letters Patent theserial number whereof is 19,583 the only part claimed relates to the partition between the trays, and all oth er matters of invention shown therein were reserved for this patent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a fruit and egg carrier, the combination, with the two outside parallel slats C O, having both ends square, and heilig provided with the rectangular slots b, of the two outside parallel slats E E, running at right angles to the slats C, having both ends bifurcated and tongued, and the two forks of each end engaged and interlocked with the apertures bin the slats G, substantiallyas herein shown and described.

2. In a fruit and egg carrier, the combination substantially hereinbet'ore described with the outside slats C, provided with the transverse slots a' and b, and the outside slats E, with their ends bifurcated and ton gued, as at t and e, and provided with transverse slots a3, of the series of slats B and B', each provided with tongues c, forming the inside part ofthe fabric in one direction aud the series of inside slats D, provided with transverse slots a2, and their ends bifurcated and tongued, as at t and e, running at right angles to said slats B B', all constructed and arranged as set forth.

3. In a fruit and egg carrier, the combination of the sides C C, having the transverse slots a', with a series of slats B B', having the locking-protectors F, clamped upon and niade to embrace the ends of said slats outside of said side pieces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

LEVI H. PAGE.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. BAKER, PETER SCHWAERER. 

